Cardio-pulmonary Exercise Capacity in Patients with Lung Cancers: a Comparison Study Between Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Lobectomy and Thoracotomy Lobectomy

Objective To determine the effect of video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy on the pulmonary rehabilitation of patients with lung cancers. Methods Between September 2010 and December 2011, 138 patients with lung cancers were treated with lobectomy:68 using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and 70 using thoracotomy. The preoperative and postoperative (7 d and 30 d) pulmonary functions and Cardio-pulmonary Exercise Capacities as well as postoperative (7 d and 30 d) DE Morton Index of the two groups of patients were assessed. The two groups of patients had similar in clinical characteristics. Results ① Patients in the VATS group had greater FEV1 (1.64 ±0.21) L and PEF[(310.58±30.13) L/min] on the 7 d after operations than those with thoracotomy[FEV1 (1.34±0.11) L and PEF (270.18±25.67) L/min],P<0.05. ② Patients in the VATS group had lower fatigue index (0.27±0.08) and dyspnea index (0.28±0.17) on the 7 d after operations than those with thoracotomy (0.44±0.10 fatigue index and 0.39±0.09 dyspnea index),P<0.05. ③ Patients in the VATS group had longer 6-min walking distance on the 7 d[(490.57±118.33) m] and 30 d[(524.32±140.87) m] after operations than those with thoracotomy[(395.07±100.19) m at 7 d and (471.10±118.57) m at 30 d],P<0.05. ④ Patients in the VATS group had higher DE Morton index (74.58±16.23) on the 7 d after operations than those with thoracotomy (55.87±14.79),P<0.05. Conclusion VATS lobectomy for curative lung cancer resection appears to provide a superior functional health recovery compared with thoracotomy.